Hello Compleat Angler Friends! While the summer doldrums are definitely here to stay, fishing remains consistent for striped bass out East and on the reefs in the Sound. Smaller fish are being spotted between Montauk and Newport, which is a great sign given the state of the striper fishery. Trout fishing has slowed in most rivers with the exception of the Farmington, which, thanks to being fed by cold water, is producing a solid bite.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows on the Saugatuck have returned to fishable levels at 126 CFS. While high for this time of year, the water should be much cleaner than it has been, and hopefully whatever trout are left have started to feed with more regularity. Rivers such as the Mianus, Mill, and Norwalk Rivers are in a similar state, although trout will be harder to find on local streams with the increased heat and humidity. With the current Heat Advisory in effect for most of the southern portion of the state, focusing your efforts on more heat tolerant species such as carp, largemouth, and smallmouth would be a good bet. As for hatches, same as always. Caddis, BWO's. Streamers for larger fish holding deep.
The Naugatuck has also calmed down considerably and is now at 403 CFS. Same goes for this river as with other local waterways, increased heat and humidity will put unnecessary strain on trout, so finding an alternative species to pick on might be wise. If you are dead set on trout, think small and subtle. During warmer weather, trout will seek out small shaded pools and will keep their eyes up for passing hatches or the occasional terrestrial.
Farmington River
The river is gettinggood to excellent dry fly reports, especially from those fishing in the evenings. Later in the day look for Isonychia #10-12, small Blue Winged Olives #20-24, Rusty Spinners in the same sizes, Cahills/Summer Steno’s #12-16, Attenuata #18-20, and egg-laying Caddis #18-22 (tan, black). Sulfurs are basically done in the Permanent TMA/C&R, we continue to see some hatching in Riverton. Morning bugs include Summer/Winter Caddis #18-24, Needhami Duns #22-26, Needhami Spinners #22-26, and Tan Caddis #18. Ants and Beetles are good dries to fish between late morning and early evening when there aren’t too many bugs hatching. Dry/Dropper combinations are working well for many anglers. Try combining an Isonychia Comparadun and a tiny nymph like #18-20 Baetis or a Zebra Midge to catch trout in fast water
46 degree water is coming out of the dam, which is fantastic. It keeps the river at trout-friendly water temps for a good ways downriver, but if you go far enough below the dam you will eventually run into water temps that are too high to ethically trout fish (over 68 degrees), especially in the afternoons/evenings on hotter sunny days. Sunshine is the #1 driver of water temp increases, followed closely by hot air temps. Mornings after a cool night allow you to fish further downriver, then work your way upstream to stay in cool water as the day progresses and water temps increase. Use your thermometer to guide you on how far up or downriver to fish. Riverton just above the Still River has been ranging from about 46 to 53.5 degrees. 65-68 degrees should be used as a cutoff to move upriver and find cooler water. A good strategy is to start downstream, and work your way upstream as the day progresses, and this will keep you in water under 65 degrees all day long, which will give you the best fishing and minimize stress on the trout.
Fishing is always more technical in August due to lower flows and months of fishing pressure “educating” the trout, but it can be very good if you know what you are doing. Be stealthy, wear drab clothing, and use 12' or longer leaders with long/light 3-6' plus tippets in the 6x-7x range. August is prime dry fly time, but it is also good for nymphing, streamers can be good at first & last night, and this is a great time of year to gothrow bushy Mice after dark. Lower water like we currently have, creates more dry fly fishing as it makes it more efficient for trout to feed on the surface due to slower & shallower flows.
This time of year when you are nymphing, look for fast water, and if it’s in the shade even better. Small nymphs #18-24 can be the difference between a slow day and a great one. 6X tippet helps, but 5x is typically okay if you don’t want to go light. Thinner tippet sinks lightweight flies better, and the greater flexibility lets you flies drift more naturally. Don’t sleep on smaller jig streamers in olive or tan.
The Housatonic River at Falls Village is reading 943 CFS, which is much better than where we were a few weeks ago. Streamers have been working well with smallmouth in white and pink, and craw patterns are also performing. Pike should be starting to shift into gear in the deeper sections of the river, so if you are after toothy critters, think longer, slower sections further south. Certain sections of the river have been pressured and subjected to warm water, so hiking on foot between Cornwall and Kent is not a bad idea, although the low humidity and increased flows might help shake things up. Trout are hard to come by due to the warm weather, but sightcasting to big bronzebacks is an amazing way to switch up your approach during summer months, and helps give pressured trout a much-deserved break. Craw flies, poppers, hoppers, and streamers will all be effective, and might even scare up a nice brown.
The release from Cannonsville is 500 cfs. A few storms moved beginning yesterday evening and the flows bumped a bit. The West Branch is at 663 cfs and dropping so we’re still at a good level for floating and wading. Clarity is fine out front. We may see some additional storms this afternoon so keep an eye on the radar. The fishing has stayed relatively consistent with the summer sulphurs hatching midday in Deposit. There are some olives mixed in plus a few Isonychias and Cahills. Stick to the lower West if you want to nymph. The algae has been bad up top making it a dry fly only game.
Today will be 86 degrees with clouds in the morning and scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Wind will be light and variable.
August is a funny month for striper fishing. Most guys hang up their rods until that first cool night in September, but some of the best bass of the year can be caught during the "dog days". There are a select few who start their fall run fishing at night during the last week of august, as trophy bass slide quietly back to their winter haunts ahead of their smaller brethren. Something to think about.
As for smaller to slot sized fish, bass can be found on early morning and evening tides feeding closer to shore, and during the height of the day, checking out reefs and deeper water in the Sound would be a good idea. There is a large amount of Peanut Bunker in the estuary rivers from Greenwich all the way to New London. The New Moon is August 12th, and some of the best times to fish a large moon cycle is on the 3 days before and after its peak, so get out and explore.
